GB Masters judoka ended the World Veteran Championships in Olbia on a high with nine medals won on the final day of competition on Tuesday 3 October.

This took the GB Judo tally to 17 in total for the competition, an improvement on the 13 won last year in Fort Lauderdale.

Kay Andrews (F6 -78kg) successfully defended her title, winning a close competition for gold. Fellow GB judoka Lesley Hutchins got the better of her teammate in their opening contest but Andrews took the title by virtue of more wins by ippon. Hutchins finished with bronze.

Joyce Malley added World gold to her European title from earlier in 2017, winning a number of close contests to top the podium at F6 -63kg. Malley won bronze at last year’s World Veterans in Fort Lauderdale.

Sophie Cox (F2 -57kg) and Sarah Hopkins (F5 -70kg) took home silver medals with the latter just missing out on defending her title with a close defeat to Margarita Cabrera (USA) in the final.

There were also five bronze medals won on the final day. Fiona Chan (F3 -57kg) and Samantha Chraniuk (F2 -63kg) had won European gold in Zagreb earlier this year but weren’t able to top the podium in Olbinia. However, they showed their determination to secure a podium finish.

Caroline Rawlings (F2 -52kg) added another World bronze to her collection with Dianne White (F5 -57kg) also finishing her day on the medal rostrum.